Cubing table



API'il 2, 1963 A. H. FRENCH 3,083,844

CUBING TABLE Filed May 19, 1960 3,083,844 CUBING TABLE Arthur H. French, P.O. Box 352, Alpena, Mich. Filed May 19, 1960, Ser. No. 39,263 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-105) This invention relates to special purpose equipment and more particularly to a table to facilitate block cubing.

In-plant handling of building blocks, a cubing technique has been devised to facilitate the movement of blocks. The table constructed in accordance with the invention materially facilitates the cubing practice by providing a table which is Very amenable to receiving the blocks during the cubing procedure.

Briefly, a table constructed in accordance with the invention is made of a substantial frame having a number of parallel frame members which rise vertically above a set of legs. Four intermediate frame members have a T-shaped section, while the end frame members are simply plates. A mechanical stop is secured to one f the end frame members and protrudes laterally from it. All of the members are spaced from each other to permit a mechanical clamp jaw to tit beneath the blocks supported on the upper edges of the frame members whereby the blocks may be easily placed and removed from the cubing table.

The cubing procedure is a common technique. However, the procedure is materially facilitated by a table in accordance with the invention. The specific construction of the table makes this possible in that there is ample space for mechanical cubing clamp to move and function when placing or removing the blocks on the cubing table.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently aparent reside in the ydetails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, refere-nce being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a table in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational View showing the table in FIGURE l with two groups of blocks thereon, one group shown only fragmentarily and in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2 but showing the blocks in dotted lines.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the cubiug table shown in FIGURE l.

In the accompanying drawing there is an illustration of a cubing table 1li which exemplifiies the principles of the invention. The cubing table dimensions may be Varied depending on the size of blocks with which it is to be used. For instance, two typical tables are 40" x 48 X 8 high and 48" x 48" x 8" high respectively. It is understood that these table dimensions are given by way of examples only, but they are tables of very useful dimensions.

Table is made of metal and has a leg structure 12 composed of four legs 14, 16, `18 and 2t) which are most conveniently made of angle iron. The leg structure is completed by two horizontal frame members 22 and 24 which are also preferably of angle iron members welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper ends of the four legs 14, 16, 1S and 20.

The main portion of the table is composed of six parallel frame members 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 respectively. Each frame member is spaced suiciently from the next adjacent frame member to allow a mechanical clamp jaw to lit therebetween and at the ends thereof. Further, the frame members 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 protrude beyond the members 22 and 24 to provide perfectly free arent 0 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 clearance in a vertical plane between the members at the ends thereof.

Frame members 26 and 36 are made of fiat plates with the lower edges welded or otherwise secured to members 22 and 24. Members 28, 30, 32 and 34 are of T-section and therefore they have vertical flat plates. parallel to the at plates forming members 26 and 36, but there are horizontal strips 29, 31, 33 and 35 at the upper edges thereof. The upper surfaces of strips 29, 31, 33 and 3S are coplanar and coplanar with the upper edges of members 26 and 36.

A mechanical stop 40 is attached to member 36 and is preferably composed of an angle member having a vertical flange 41 and a horizontal -tlange 4Z with the inner edge of horizontal flange 42 welded or otherwise secured to the rear flat surface of member 26 beneath the upper edge thereof. The vertical flange 41 is sulficiently broad to rise above the plane containing the upper edges of me-mbers 26, 36 and the upper surfaces of strips 29, 31, 33 and 35. structurally, this completes table 10.

Functionally, the table is especially designed for cubing building `blocks for both in-plant and extra-plant handling. A typical cubing arrangement is shown in FIGURE 2 wherein there are three layers of blocks 441, 4S and 46 with the blocks all facing in one direction. The next three layers, only two of which 47 and 4d are shown, have the blocks facing in another arrangement.

In placing and removing the blocks, a. mechanical clamp has ample room between members 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 for freedom of movement in vertical planes. As shown best in FIGURE 3, the upper edges of all 0f these members constitutes rests on which the blocks are disposed. Where two blocks are supported by the same member, at T-shaped section is used to provide ample bearing surface. The stop 40 is a great convenience because it provides a starting reference in a horizontal plane and enables all of the blocks to be stacked and placed both plumb and square.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modilications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A cubing table for building blocks, said table cornprising a leg structure including vertically extending legs and horizontally extending support members secured to the top of said legs, and a plurality of horizontally disposed flat plates, .said flat plates extending in parallel spaced relation to each other and each being disposed in a vertical plane, the lower edges of each of the plates being rigidly secured to the horizontal support members, the outer ends of said plates extending beyond the horizontal support members to provide a free clearance between the at plates at the ends thereof, the outermost of said ilat plates having their upper edge disposed above the plane of the upper edge of the intermediate plates, the intermediate plates each having a horizontally disposed strip rigidly secured thereto in perpendicular relation forming T -shaped members, the upper surface of the strips being in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of the outermost plates.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein one of the outermost plates has a substantially L-shaped stop member attached to the outer surface thereof, the horizontal leg of the stop member being secured to the outer surface of the plate slightly below the upper edge thereof, the long leg of the stop extending above the plane of the upper edge of the outermost plates and being laterally spaced from the upper edge of the outermost plate to which it is attached, thereby forming a stop.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the vertically extending legs and horizontally extending support members are formed of angle iron with the upper portions of the legs secured within the angles of the horizontally extending support members.

References Cited in the le of this patent Romine Aug. 12, 1930 Erickson Dec. 24, 1940 Lapham Dec. 15, 1953 Goetz Aug. 24, 1954 Haglind May 27, 1958 Wardell Ian. 20, 1959 Black Feb. 2, 1960 FOREGN PATENTS France of 1956 

1. A CUBING TABLE FOR BUILDING BLOCKS, SAID TABLE COMPRISING A LEG STRUCTURE INCLUDING VERTICALLY EXTENDING LEGS AND HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT MEMBERS SECURED TO THE TOP OF SAID LEGS, AND A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FLAT PLATES, SAID FLAT PLATES EXTENDING IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND EACH BEING DISPOSED IN A VERTICAL PLANE, THE LOWER EDGES OF EACH OF THE PLATES BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS, THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID PLATES EXTENDING BEYOND THE HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A FREE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FLAT PLATES AT THE ENDS THEREOF, THE OUTERMOST OF SAID FLAT PLATES HAVING THEIR UPPER EDGE DISPOSED ABOVE THE PLANE OF THE UPPER EDGE OF THE INTERMEDIATE PLATES, THE INTERMEDIATE PLATES EACH HAVING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED STRIP RIGIDLY SECURED THERETO IN PERPENDICULAR RELATION FORMING T-SHAPED MEMBERS, THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE STRIPS BEING IN THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE AS THE UPPER EDGE OF THE OUTERMOST PLATES. 